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Sam Marsden, Barcelona correspondent
Former Spanish Football Federation [RFEF] President Luis Rubiales was summoned to testify before Spain’s National Court on Friday on charges of sexual assault and coercion.
Prosecutors filed a lawsuit against Rubiales – who resigned as president on Sunday – last week after he made an unwanted kiss on the lips of Spanish striker Jennifer Hermoso after the Women’s World Cup final last month.
The judge agreed to take over the case on Monday, and on Tuesday called Rubiales to appear in court as a personal defendant on Friday.
In addition to the sexual assault charges, Rubiales also faces charges of coercion for pressuring Hermoso and her relatives to say she justified what happened and consented to it, according to the prosecution report.
Rubiales, who was already serving a 90-day suspension from office imposed by FIFA, finally resigned from his position on Sunday. He also resigned from his position as Vice President of UEFA.
His resignation came three weeks after his behavior spoiled Spain’s victory in the World Cup final over England and sparked multiple investigations into his behavior. All cases have been opened by FIFA, the Spanish Supreme Court for Sports (TAD) and now the National Court.
In addition to the Hermoso kiss, he was also found guilty of grabbing his genitals, hugging and kissing other players and throwing another player on his shoulder.
After initially refusing to step down, 81 current and former Spain women’s internationals announced they would not play for the national team again under the current regime.
In his resignation letter on Sunday, Rubiales said that he would continue to fight to prove his innocence and indicated that he resigned only to avoid further negative repercussions for Spanish football and the Spanish Football Federation, noting that they are currently seeking to co-host the 2030 Men’s World Cup.
Hermoso said the kiss was not consensual and that she felt vulnerable and the victim of an aggressive act. She later filed charges alongside Spanish prosecutors.
Rubiales continues to assert that there was consent.
“My intentions were noble, passionate and 100% non-sexual, I repeat 100%,” the ousted president told Piers Morgan in an interview scheduled to air later on Tuesday.
“There was no harm, no sexual content, no assault, nothing like that. The significance of the kiss to Jenny was exactly the same as the kiss of one of my daughters.
“There was no assault under any circumstances and there was no sexual content under any circumstances.
“I want to say that Piers, once again, I made a mistake. I apologize, but let’s be clear, this is not sexual assault under any circumstances.”
Spain’s World Cup-winning coach Jorge Villeda has also lost his job, with Spanish Football Federation interim president Pedro Rocha reacting to the fallout by making structural changes at the federation.
Montse Toomey, Velda’s former assistant, was appointed as his replacement. She is scheduled to announce her first squad on Friday for the UEFA Nations League matches later this month against Sweden and Switzerland.
At the moment, the 81 players remain unavailable for selection, but sources have told ESPN that they have been in dialogue with the Spanish Football Federation in recent days to discuss terms for a potential return.
